History of Breast Implants, Breast Implant Helpline

History of Breast Implants and Breast Augmentation

1890 – first surgical breast augmentation procedure was performed with paraffin injection.

This led to infections

Lump formations in the breast

By 1920s paraffin injections became out of favor for breast augmentation

1920 – Fat transplants were tried. Fatty tissue was surgically removed from the belly and buttock areas and transferred into the breast

This was unsuccessful because the body would quickly reabsorb most of the fat, leaving the breast lumpy and lopsided.

By 1940s, this procedure was given up.

1960's – Silicone injections directly into the breast was tried

Complications of chornic inflammation, infections, and lumps

These complications caused this form of breast augmentation to fall out of favor.

1950s – Polyvinyl sponges started to be implanted into the breasts for breast augmentation

Different types of synthetic sponges were also tried

They were all found to shrink and harden within a year

Infections occurred.

There was a possible link between this type of breast augmentation surgery and cancer

1961 – The first silicone breast implant was developed.

1982 – Silicone breast implants were withdrawn due to safety concerns

1988 – Dow Corning, one of the silicone breast implants largest manufacturer settled a class action lawsuit for 3.2 billion for 170,000 women

1992 – Only saline-filled implants have been allowed in the American general market for cosmetic breast augmentation. Silicone breast implants had been available only to special pateints through FDA approved trials

1995 – Soybean Oil implants introduced

Considered to be a natural approach to breast augmentation

1999 – these breast implants were withdrawn from the market because a they were found to contain a filler that could become toxic in the body as it breaks down.

This type of breast augmentation surgery was never approved in the U.S.

an article on Tara Reid's Breast Implants Threaten Her Life – she had soybean implants

They could also go rancid.

2001 Brava Breast Enhancement and Shaping System was introduced

Breast Implants do cause certain complications

Common Injuries Caused by Breast Implants

• Fibrous capsular contracture
• Calcification
• Silicone gel leakage and migration
• Infection
• Interference with mammography
• Degradation of polyurethane foam-covered breast prostheses
• Human carcinogenicity
• Human tetrogenicity , silicone toxicity
• Immune disorders

2006 – November, the FDA (USA) approves silicone breast implants again

2012- The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new silicone-gel breast implant from Sientra, making it the third company to market the controversial products in the U.S.